Piccolo let out a blood curdling howl as his hands went to his head. His fingernails sunk into his leathery green skin to the point that purple was visible. The massive monster was beyond pained, he looked in agony even tearing up. In a breathless voice ran out he the fragmented words "My son! Tambourine!" In pain he slumped back into his throne trying to catch his breath looking almost sad.

Piano looked equally heartbroken. The mood of the room changing from rage to sad. The Pilaf gang was confused on what to say or do. But Piccolo seemed hell bound and determined to take everything Pilaf said the wrong way.

So, Pilaf thought "Oh no fool me once, shame on ah shame on you. Fool me ah you can't get fooled again. Yah I think that the saying. Right?"

Instead he kept him lips shut as Piccolo growled out an order to them. "We're going to where my boys fell!"

A twinge of fear rolled up Pilaf's back. Whoever this was killing these monsters they were going to soon be going towards.

These people with ease had killed the little girl who he had seen bend steel, who had bullets bounce off of her, made waves of pure energy come from her hands. This didn't seem like a wise or a smart idea in the least and he could see that.

Pilaf stuttering "My… My Lord… Surely this isn't the best course of action."

Piccolo flashed him a glare that made Pilaf curse his fate and his life.

Why did this always have to happen to a genius like him? All he had done was unleash an ancient space demon that had once upon a time destroyed the world and caused the apocalypse. Why did life hate him so much?

Pilaf still stuttering "Right away… My Lord… We…We'll be on are way shortly."

Pilaf signaled Mai and she took off to the control room. Mai was sure to keep her mouth shut but her doubt were larger then Pilaf's were. Not that they had a choice at this point. As soon as this was over, she was going to try and find a new career. Maybe something more moral.

The airship changed course now heading directly for Korin's tower.


Meanwhile Roshi's and company were coming upon the fourth Dragonball.

The three were in a cave and they were on edge. They had as of yet seen anything of Piccolo and Roshi was sure that this was soon to change.

The blue haired Launch was inching her way along a cave wall when a feather she had disturbed fell from the wall and hit her nose. She sneezed and blonde had returned. She grinned as she realized that she was right behind Tien.

Tien blushed as he looked to see the noise and saw that blonde Launch was staring at his ass. He turned his head forward and marched trying to pretend nothing was amiss.

Roshi merely sighed at this sight but as funny as all of this was his mind was plague by Piccolo.

At once he seemed transported back to his youth. To the world of Fanfan, Shen and Master Mutaito.

His old purple crush that he irritated by trying keep trying to get a peek. Maybe if had not been such a perve and asked her out something could have come of it. Shen arrogant and vain yes but also gentle. Plenty of times he could won fights with Roshi by playing dirty or hurting him, but he didn't. Shen wasn't cruel… yet. And his master was invincible the strongest on the Earth.

The idyllic past then smashed into what happen. Fanfan wasn't so lucky to escape the King's assault on the Earth. He never found her body even after he looked. Shen his friend seeing such horror became a part of it, unable to escape it. Master beaten with a flick of a wrist then the way his master did stop Piccolo.

Roshi tried to shake of these sad days of memory. He knew that there was only one way to stop the monster. Only problem was Launch and Tien were probably going to get in the way. It was good that they were distracted.

The others were going to be angry at him but seeing this cringe worth romance developing confirmed what he needed to do. Just like before and there was a world's worth of cringe romances that needed to be preserved.

Tien the dummy he was would give up all of this to try and make up for a bunch of forced errors. That Roshi couldn't help feel responsible for by not stopping Shen.

It was high time that the old die for the young like his master had die for him he was going to die for these love birds. Maybe if or when Krillin was brought back he and Chi-Chi would finally find each other and his students would all find what had eluded him in life.

He berated himself for being so sappy, but he also thought if there was any time to be sappy it would be now.

He smiled as they found the fourth ball and didn't stop even when they were being chased by the crows that had been holding it. The crows scratched at his bald head. One of the crows must have thought it her egg or something maybe. In the ship the love birds were panting the two seemed to be having fun. They were both so young.

It wasn't their time it was his. Maybe Fanfan would be there and Shen. Maybe now dead his old friend found the peace that eluded him in life. Gohan, Ox, Master all of them.

Hopeful not Chi-Chi yet part of him was either in denial or knew something the other part didn't. It was a good very, very long life maybe too long. Maybe they would bring him back or maybe this was it. Either way it was time to play hero one last time.

It was on to the fifth and final ball and to the show down with the King of the Demons.


Kakarrot with Tambourine's blood still freshly on him began to clean the place up before his show down with the King. He unceremoniously dumped the twin mutants on the fire allowing them to merely catch fire.

Twilight was approaching as he impatiently waited. He could feel a great power coming towards him. It was just taking it sweet ass time, so he waited. After hours of waiting he began to sing to himself.

"I've got no strings to hold me down. To make me fret or make me down. I had strings, but now I'm free. There are no string on me." He stopped to see Pilaf's mighty airship above him. With a renewed smiled he said, "They have string as you can see but there are no strings on me."

Mai on the Intercom "My Lord King Piccolo we have arrived." There was a pause. "Oh, shit am I on the outside speaker…" With that it cut off.

Kakarrot rolled his eyes at this. Piccolo choice in henchman was still not impressing him in the least. But finally, it looked like he was about to get the challenge he was looking for. Kakarrot stood out onto a field he had made by blowing up a few trees and with his arms folded he waited.

King Piccolo emerged on to the deck of the craft followed by first Piano then the Pilaf gang. The tripped had allowed the demon king a chance to regain his confidence and composure. He had a cruel grin back on his face a smile that spoke of his hunger for revenge.

Piano looked equally as confident in his father victory, but Pilaf and his gang were not so sure. All three were shaky. None of this had gone to plan not one bit.

What was worse was that they were not sure whose side they were on. It wasn't like Piccolo had showed them anything but contempt. It seemed like at any moment they would say or do the wrong thing and that would be the end of them. The unknown though, they thought it could be worse so for now it was better to root for the devil you know then the devil you don't.

Piccolo got to the railing and looked down to see his first glimpse of the teenage saiyan that had given him so much trouble. Despite the distant the two managed to lock eyes. Both found each other impressed by the other.

Kakarrot realized how big Piccolo was and gave off an excited whistling noise.

Piccolo was a first disgusted by the fact his boys had been killed by a child but then realized he was receiving a predator's stare not a child's. This boy meant business he thought.

Piccolo now satisfied that his sons at least died to what may turn out to be a true warrior he without a word levitated above the hull and then fell downwards. Pilaf and the gang were shocked, but Piano barely registered it.

Piccolo slowly fell in a very showy fashion. Both him and Kakarrot seemed to get a kickoff of it. Kakarrot because he thought it amusing that Piccolo was trying to intimidate him. Piccolo was calm because as he expected it didn't work on this kid.

Piccolo feet touched the ground and the height was stark. The eight-foot giant towered over the yet to hit puberty saiyan teen. The demon symbol in black with a white background and red pointed circle.

It made Kakarrot want to chuckle as it was something, he would have done to psyche someone out. In a swift move the King removed his cape leaving him with his dark blue shirt on top with the symbol on it. His dark blue pants on and his brown moccasins.

It only made Kakarrot more excited. This was a man who got it he thought. Understood showmanship, got intimation this was going to the fight he was waiting for despite the King's age. Twice he had been proven that age mattered little this would be the third he was sure.

Piccolo "So I'm guessing you killed my sons."

Kakarrot shrugged nonchalantly and said sarcastically "Well I did just kill two green things. Were those your sons? I just can't tell. I mean there is just so little family resemblance."

"Ha Ha. You're just the funniest little monkey, aren't you?"

"I don't know slug man. Never meet another of my kind. As it happens, I'm from an endangered species."

Piccolo now at least a little curious "Really?"

"Yes." He pointed to his tail. "Not exactly from around here if you catch my drift."

Piccolo point to his face "Same here."

Kakarrot wryly "What a shocker. I guess that make us both strangers in strange land."

"I guess so tiny. You don't know how happy that is for me to hear. Here I thought it was one of these worms that killed my sons but you're no human but you're just another orphan of a different world."

"Wow I'm astounded you have brain. Neither of your sons seemed to grasp the concept that I'm not one of these worthless human's. But you have down in less than a minute. So, did you drop them on their heads or did you wife drink when she was pregnant with them?"

Piccolo held back his rage at those comments merely giving the teen an unenthused straight face. Kakarrot enjoyed the fact that he was able to get under Piccolo's skin. He smirked as Piccolo began to show his fangs.

"You know for someone so small you talk a big game."

"Size matters not, at least that's what I've been told. It's what you use it for."

"And you believed them boy?"

"No. But the difference is I'm not done growing yet. While you have reached the end of line old man."

Piccolo eye's slanted "We shall see."

Kakarrot took a stance while Piccolo merely folded up his arms. Neither side could get a read on the other. Both were restraining their real strength; both were equally convinced of this fight's conclusion.

A wind blew between them as the sounds of the forest ceased all were scared about what was going to happen. An acorn fell on a rock nearby to which both used as a signal to start.

The two charged each other and their fists meet in a clash. Pilaf and the gang do to distance and speed lost track of the match. The two were midair as their clash went on. Kakarrot and Piccolo were loudly grunting as their blows both started to hit home.

Scrap marks appeared on both their hands Kakarrot's crimson, Piccolo's purple. Piccolo swung at Kakarrot's head which he dodged then used to break off the storm of fists.

The two hit the ground neither side looking very exhausted. Instead both looked quite content. Piccolo enjoying that his sons had died to someone who was at worthy of consideration. Kakarrot enjoyed that this was a real fight the first one in like forever ago.

Piccolo looked at his bloody fist and smirked. "I have an offer for you boy."

Kakarrot looked at him intrigued "What's offer old man?"

"I wish to kill all the worthless human's that reside on this planet but you're not human."

"Yes, we've established this fact."

"You seem to have no love for these people anymore then I."

"Go on."

"Despite your action I've lost a lot of children over the years so what's two more."

Kakarrot a bit shocked "Wow. That's even ruthless by my standards but admirable. Please continue."

"You're a fighter worthy of keeping around. So, I propose that you and I join forces and end them. With my children gone I could use the help. Once I have the dragon ball you and I will be unstoppable strong. We'll purge this world of its worthless inhabitants and make it a haven for the demons."

Kakarrot looked genuinely surprised even taking a second to think it over but then shook his head. "Well while that sound awesomely metal but I'm afraid the answer is a no. Grandpa is a human and I'm certainly not letting you kill him or Chi-Chi. Besides what would you or I gain by killing them all?"

"What did you say?"

"What would you gain by killing them all?"

Piccolo a bit confused by the question that he hadn't really asked himself "I'd no longer that to look at them for starters."

"Yes but what would you do with an empty planet. No one to terrify, no one forced to bow and worship you. A throne on a dead world is just a chair. Why would you want to kill them all when you can rule them all?"

Piccolo seemed almost taken in by this argument but then shook his head. His mind filled with all the horrible memories of youth. The evil the human had done to the world and one another.

"No, the humans deserve extinction. I will kill them all I swear it."

The two got back into stance then charged at one another again. This time the match seemed less even as Kakarrot began to take more hits then Piccolo was. Kakarrot kicked off Piccolo to try and give himself some distance but Piccolo followed to keep the pressure up.

Piccolo punched the saiyan in the face. His body hit the ground only to bounce which he then used to kick Kakarrot away. Limply the boy went skidding away until sliding to a stop. Piccolo despite breathing a little more heavily was smiling. Victory looked certain.

But it was then that Kakarrot picked his head off the dirt. He wasn't slow, panting or even injured. He merely picked himself up off the ground and nonchalantly began to dust himself off.

Piccolo looked at the boy in fear. It hit him with just about all he done, and the boy was still unfazed. Kakarrot had a quick stretch before turning back to face Piccolo.

Kakarrot's arms were behind his head and his right leg know up, heel on his left knee. He was grinning until he saw Piccolo's face. He had assumed that he was holding back as much as he was, but his face said it all. This was best the would-be king could do.

Kakarrot sighed deflatedly "And here I thought I had run finally into a really challenge." He angrily looked at Piccolo. "You know you really got my hopes up."

Piccolo was now no longer the cool fighter. He had gone from shook to furious rage. He was grinding his teeth and clenching his fists.

This boy had insulted him in so many ways and it was filling him up with bile.

It couldn't be that this child could be stronger than him. The boy was a lower lifeform an insect compared to him.

Piccolo in a blind rage charged at him swinging with all his might. But with ease Kakarrot deflected them then delivering a blow to Piccolo stomach which made him gasp and fall back.

Piccolo looked increasing like a ball of rage. He was shaking with rage in pure denial of what was happening.

Kakarrot shook his head with disgust "This is beyond disappointing. I wanted a fight but instead I find an animal passed its prime so sad."

Lightening comes from Piccolo's fists as some of the material around him shakes. Kakarrot looks with at him with interest maybe this fight isn't over yet. Kakarrot raises his hands to his side and cups his hands. Piccolo even in his rage sees this and nearly pauses with terror.

It looks a lot like the evil containment wave. But then he noticed there was no jar and he calmed down.

The two fire at the same time and the beam hit and struggle against one another. Piccolo even with his second wind proves no match for Kakarrot. But Kakarrot merely detonates the ball rather than setting it at Piccolo. It goes off like a bomb sending debris flying and leaving a small crater below where it was.

Piccolo is exhausted the old demon can almost not stand as the also exhausted Kakarrot flies over to him. He is sweating a little and panting a bit but nowhere near done.

Kakarrot angrily says to him "You got my hopes up slug man and you're going to pay for that." He raises his hand into the in a claw in complete fist like pose. "I'm going to rip your fucking heart out and show it to you."

Piccolo in pain yelps out "Their no way you would have beaten me so easily if I got my wish."

Kakarrot halts then eyes him suspiciously "Why? What would you have wished for?"

In Piccolo's head a switch seems to goes off. "I was going to wish you see for eternal youth so that I could return to my fighting prime." Now with a smile. "I'd be a lot stronger than. Not the weak old man that you see before you."

Kakarrot was practically salivating at the words just spoken. He then tried to reel himself back and asked "So if I gave you the ball. You'd be a worth challenge?"

Piccolo back in cool mode nodded "Absolutely. I would regain all the endurance and strength that time has stolen from me. I'd rip you apart no question."

Kakarrot looking excite on the verge of ecstatic "No question huh? Very interesting."

"Child let me have my wish and you will have a challenge worth of you I guarantee it."

Kakarrot hand went to the ball then gripped it "You the funny thing is I know you're playing me right now but I don't think I really care." He ripped off the necklace and tossed him the ball. "But I'm coming with you. I don't want you to just run off and hide after you get your wish."

Piccolo with his eyes light up and a wolfish grin on his face "O don't worry. I'm about to not have a reason in the world to run."


Wow who'd think would that scummy selfish evil Kakarrot would do something so scummy selfish and evil. I just bet that won't come back to bite him hehe.